The mission of ASBD is to maintain a legal and regulatory structure for Arkansas's financial industry. This structure provides the public with convenient, safe and competitive banking, which fosters economic development within this State. Our mission is accomplished through efficient allocation of available human and other resources existing in our Examination, Information Technology and Administrative Services Divisions.

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Financial Institution Info

Founded in 1875, the American Bankers Association represents financial institutions of all sizes and charters, and is a voice for the nation's almost $17 trillion banking industry and its more than 2 million employees.

American Banker is a leading information resource serving the banking and financial services community. The daily print edition of American Banker was first published in 1836. Its on-line counterpart has been live since 1996.

The Arkansas Bankers Association (ABA) was established in 1891. It is the state's largest and oldest banking industry organization. The ABA provides a variety of member services, including educational programs, products and services, publications and a comprehensive government relations program.

The Arkansas Bankers Coalition is a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring the resiliency and availability of Arkansas’s financial community by: establishing a climate of cooperation between financial institutions and public and private entities; collaborating with federal, state and local entities on emergency evacuation and credentialing strategies; enhancing communication between financial institutions and public and private entities; facilitating dissemination of pertinent information in the event of a disaster; encouraging effective disaster relief legislation and policy; and ensuring the public sector knows the importance placed on financial services being available during disasters or emergencies.

The Bank Administration Institute (BAI) is a financial services association and leading industry resource for breakthrough information and intelligence. The organization has deep expertise in retail banking, payments and regulatory compliance. BAI offers a wide depth of products and services for banks and credit unions such as conferences and events, bank research and benchmarking programs, and bank and credit union compliance training.

The Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS) is the nationwide organization of financial regulators from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The organization, organized in 1902, advocates at the national legislative and regulatory level on behalf of bank and non-bank supervision by the states. CSBS also offers department accreditation, professional development and examiner certification programs.

The Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) is a formal interagency body empowered to prescribe uniform principles, standards, and report forms for the federal examination of financial institutions by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (FRB), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), and to make recommendations to promote uniformity in the supervision of financial institutions. In 2006, the State Liaison Committee (SLC) was added to the Council as a voting member. The SLC includes five representatives from the Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS); the American Council of State Savings Supervisors (ACSSS); the National Association of State Credit Union Supervisors (NASCUS); and state bank departments.

The Bank Insurance & Securities Association (BISA) was formed in October 2002 as a result of the Bank Securities Association (BSA) and the Financial Institutions Insurance Association (FIIA) merger. The Association is dedicated to serving those responsible for the marketing of securities, insurance, and other investment products and advisory services through the financial services channel.

The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA), the nation’s voice for more than 5,800 community banks of all sizes and charter types, is dedicated exclusively to representing the interests of the community banking industry and its membership through effective advocacy, best-in-class education, and high-quality products and services.

The Bankers Association for Finance and Trade (BAFT) is the association for organizations actively engaged in international transaction banking. Its primary mission is to contribute to the safety and soundness of the global financial system. BAFT serves as the leading forum for bringing the financial community and its suppliers together to collaborate on shaping market practices, influencing regulation and legislation through global advocacy, and developing and adapting new and existing instruments that facilitate the settlement of products and service offerings for clients.

The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) is the only association representing all segments of the real estate finance industry. The Association develops innovative business tools, educates and trains industry professionals, serves as the industry's voice on legislative and regulatory issues, and develops open and fair standards and practices for the industry.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury administers and enforces economic and trade sanctions based on U.S. foreign policy and national security goals against targeted foreign countries and regimes, terrorists, international narcotics traffickers, those engaged in activities related to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and other threats to the national security, foreign policy or economy of the United States. OFAC acts under Presidential national emergency powers, as well as authority granted by specific legislation, to impose controls on transactions and freeze assets under U.S. jurisdiction. Many of the sanctions are based on United Nations and other international mandates, are multilateral in scope, and involve close cooperation with allied governments.

BankersOnline.com is a joint effort by Glia Group, Inc. and the Bankers Information Network. BankersOnline.com provides research support to bankers with questions regarding compliance, lending, operations, security and technology.

The Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS) Resource Center is the official gateway into the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System & Registry, and provides users with tools, tips, news and updates.

Established in 1973, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) is the independent, private-sector, not-for-profit organization that establishes financial accounting and reporting standards for public and private companies, and not-for-profit organizations, that follow Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).

The Risk Management Association (RMA) is a not-for-profit, member-driven professional association whose sole purpose is to advance sound risk principles in the financial services industry. RMA helps its members use sound risk principles to improve institutional performance and financial stability, and to enhance the risk competency of individuals through information, education, peer sharing and networking.

The Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center (FS-ISAC) was established by the financial services sector in response to 1998's Presidential Directive 63. That directive - later updated by 2003's Homeland Security Presidential Directive 7 - mandated that the public and private sectors share information about physical and "cyber" security threats and vulnerabilities to help protect the U.S. critical infrastructure. FS-ISAC is the global financial industry's "go to" resource for cyber and physical threat intelligence analysis and sharing.

The Electronic Municipal Market Access system (EMMA) is the official repository for information on virtually all municipal securities. EMMA provides free public access to official disclosures, trade data, credit ratings, educational materials and other information about the municipal securities market.

The Secure Technology Alliance developed the EMV Connection Web site to assist issuers, merchants, acquirers/processors, ATM owners/operators and consumers with the migration to EMV chip technology used in cards and payment devices.

In light of the increasing volume and sophistication of "cyber" threats, the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council developed the Cybersecurity Assessment Tool (Assessment) to help institutions identify their risks and determine their cyber-security preparedness. The Assessment provides a repeatable and measurable process for financial institutions to measure their cyber-security preparedness over time. This Web page contains a copy of the Assessment, including a User's Guide; an overview for chief executive officers and bank directors; and an instructional video presentation with PDF slides that can be printed.

The Conference of State Bank Supervisors has published a non-technical, easy-to-read resource guide on "cyber" security that bank chief executive officers and senior executives may use to help mitigate cyber-security threats at their banks. The guide puts into one place industry-recognized standards for cyber security and best practices currently used within the financial services industry.

Community financial institutions may be exposed to operational risks through internal or external events ranging from "cyber" attacks to natural disasters. Operational risks can threaten an institution's ability to conduct basic business operations, impact its customer service and tarnish its reputation. To better prepare community financial institutions for cyber risks, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation has developed a cyber-security awareness video series as part of its Directors' Resource Center.

The Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) members are taking a number of initiatives to raise the awareness of financial institutions and their critical third-party service providers with respect to cyber-security risks and the need to identify, assess and mitigate these risks in light of the increasing volume and sophistication of cyber threats.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on March 23, 2016, issued an advisory for financial institutions on preventing, and responding to, elder financial exploitation. The advisory, intended for banks and credit unions, is accompanied by "Recommendations and Report to Financial Institutions on Preventing and Responding to Elder Financial Exploitation." The report provides, among other things, additional background and greater detail on the recommendations in the advisory. The Recommendations and Report are available here. Neither the Advisory nor Recommendations and Report impose new supervisory requirements on financial institutions. The materials were developed as a resource for financial institutions to address an issue that is costing Americans 65 and older billions of dollars annually.

The Directors' Resource Center is a special section of the FDIC's Web site that is dedicated to providing useful information and resources to directors and officers of FDIC-insured institutions. The content of this page focuses on guidance and other information that address current issues faced by the banking industry.

Risk and regulation will continue to dominate management's agenda in 2017, acording to EY’s 2017 Global Banking Outlook. EY's research also finds that 11 percent of respondents expect their banks' financial performance to improve during the year. In addition, many of the world's largest banks are starting to think about how to improve financial performance by growing or optimizing their businesses.

The Appraisal Institute was established when the American Institute of Real Estate Appraisers and the Society of Real Estate Appraisers unified in January 1991. The American Institute and the Society, founded in 1932 and 1935, respectively, were created to help standardize the appraisal process by promoting professional education and upholding high ethical standards. With 85 years of history, the Appraisal Institute continues to serve as the nation’s largest professional organization of real estate appraisers through its designation programs, public affairs outreach efforts, peer-review process education and publishing endeavors.

Consumer Info

The Arkansas state government Web site has been developed to help families, citizens and businesses find state services, agencies, elected officials and the location of offices. The Web site can be used to pay property taxes and renew automobile tags. The "home" page includes government news and a public calendar.

Fannie Mae is a government-sponsored enterprise chartered by Congress. The company is a leading source of financing for mortgage lenders, providing access to affordable mortgage financing for families nationwide.

The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis was established in 1914, after the creation of the Federal Reserve System in 1913. The Eighth Federal Reserve District is headquartered in St. Louis and has branches in Little Rock, Arkansas, Louisville, Kentucky and Memphis, Tennessee. The District includes all of Arkansas and portions of six other states: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee.

The Federal Reserve System, often referred to as the Federal Reserve or simply the "Fed," is the central bank of the United States. It was created by Congress in 1913 to provide the nation with a safe, flexible, and stable monetary and financial system.

In 1995, the once-voluntary IOLTA program became mandatory for attorneys handling client or third-party funds. In 2014, the Arkansas IOLTA Foundation, Inc. - which had administered the program since its inception - merged with the Arkansas Access to Justice Foundation, Inc., and adopted that name. The Arkansas Access to Justice Foundation now administers the program. Under Rule 1.15 of the Arkansas Model Rules of Professional Conduct, lawyers who receive, maintain or disburse client trust funds are required to maintain those funds in interest-bearing accounts at approved financial institutions, either for the benefit of the individual client or the Arkansas Access to Justice Foundation.

The Office of Financial Institutions (OFI) is responsible for the supervision of various entities that provide financial services to the citizens of the State of Louisiana. The Office is divided into three major divisions based on general types of institutions regulated - depository institutions, non-depository services and securities.

The Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance (DBCF) is charged with the primary mission of providing effective supervision and regulation of Mississippi's state-chartered banks and other financial service industries to ensure the public is provided with a convenient, safe and competitive banking environment, along with fair and lawful consumer-related financial transactions. The Department has three divisions - Banking, Consumer Finance and Mortgage.

The Missouri Division of Finance regulates state-chartered banks, trust companies, consumer credit facilities, mortgage brokers, and savings and loan institutions. Primary objectives include ensuring the safety and soundness of those institutions and the monitoring of compliance with laws and regulations, thereby safeguarding the funds of depositors and maintaining public confidence in Missouri's financial system.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) charters, regulates and supervises all national banks and federal savings associations. The OCC also supervises the federal branches and agencies of foreign banks. The primary mission of the OCC in supervising banks and federal savings associations is to ensure that they operate in a safe and sound manner and in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Another top priority of the OCC is the provision of fair access to credit and financial services. The OCC is an independent bureau of the United States Department of the Treasury.

The mission of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) - created on July 30, 1953, as an independent agency of the federal government - is to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of owners of small businesses. The mission of the SBA also includes preserving free competitive enterprise, and maintaining and strengthening the United States economy.

The mission of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD is working to: strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need for quality affordable rental homes; utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination; and transform the way HUD does business.

The Treasury Department is the executive agency responsible for promoting economic prosperity and ensuring the financial security of the United States. The Department is responsible for a wide range of activities such as advising the President on economic and financial issues, encouraging sustainable economic growth, and fostering improved governance in financial institutions. The Department of the Treasury operates and maintains systems that are critical to the nation's financial infrastructure, such as the production of coin and currency, the disbursement of payments to the American public, revenue collection and the borrowing of funds necessary to run the federal government.. The Department works to encourage global economic growth, raise standards of living and, to the extent possible, predict and prevent economic and financial crises. The Treasury Department also performs a critical and far-reaching role in enhancing national security.

As one of Arkansas's seven constitutional officers, the State Auditor is the general accountant for the state and serves as the payroll officer for the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches. In addition, the Auditor administers Arkansas's Unclaimed Property program.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) preserves and promotes public confidence in the U.S. financial system by insuring deposits in banks and thrift institutions; by identifying, monitoring and addressing risks to the deposit insurance fund; and by limiting the effect on the economy and the financial system when a bank or thrift institution fails. The FDIC directly examines and supervises almost 3,800 commercial banks and savings institutions - almost two-thirds of FDIC-insured financial institutions - for operational safety and soundness. The FDIC also examines banks for compliance with consumer protection laws and compliance with the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA), which requires banks to help meet the credit needs of the communities they are chartered to serve.

US-CERT is an office within the United States Department of Homeland Security. One of its goals is to foster a safer, stronger Internet by responding to major incidents, analyzing threats and exchanging critical cyber-security information with other organizations around the world. There is a page on the US-CERT Web site that features tips about common security issues for non-technical computer users.